Tuesday, September 01, 2009

Blunt, Carnahan Spar Over Insurance Money

PACMAN

In an attempt to shift the focus on his opponent, Congressman Roy Blunt said Tuesday that likely Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Robin Carnahan has received around $10,000 from insurance industry lobbyists since February.

But the Carnahan campaign noted that those contributions were from individuals and said that it's candidate had not received any money from political action committees (PACS) tied to insurance companies like Blunt has.

Blunt made his charge during a news conference designed to address a billboard targeting his healthcare position. The billboard noted that Blunt has received more than a half a million dollars in donations from insurance companies.

According to Opensecrets.org, Blunt has received $10,000 in donations from United Health Group between 2000-2008; $21,000 from WellPoint between 2002-2006; $11,328 from Blue Cross Blue Shield between 1998-2008 and $9,500 from Aetna between 2002-2008.

The Missouri Progressive Coalition apparently also included life, auto and personal property insurance company donations -- realms unrelated to healthcare -- to reach its total.***

Blunt campaign spokesman Rich Chrismer said, "If this is an issue in the campaign then Robin Carnahan ought to explain why she has accepted these contributions from insurance industry lobbyists."

Carnahan campaign spokesman Tony Wyche responded that individual donations to Carnahan and PAC donations to Blunt are two very different types of contributions.

"No one should be surprised that a D.C. insider who has taken half a million dollars in contributions from health care special interests and then fought to preserve the system that enriches them would prefer to discuss eight contributions that another campaign has received," Wyche said. "Though he may not like it, he will have to answer to voters for his record."